Electrical binding terminal



13 1927. Sept J. L. POLK ELECTRICAL BINDING TERMINAL Filed Feb. 9, 1925INVENTOR J-LJ OLA; BY WW vflv ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN L. POLK, OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL BINDING TERMINAL.

Application filed February 9, 1925. Serial No. 7,986.

My invention relates to improvements in electrical binding terminals,and it consists in the con'ibinations, constructions, and arrangementsherein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide an electrical binding terminalof the character described to which a multiplicity of wires orconductors may be connected at the same time and in which electricalcontact between each of the conductors and the terminal will be uniformand positive.

A further object of my invention is to provide an electrical bindingterminal of the character described in which conductors may be connectedwith the terminal intermediate their length without necessitating thesevering of the conductors as in anybinding terminals of the ordinarytype.

A further object of my invention is to protically upon the post. Thecollar 8 has its upstanding. side walls 9 concentric with and close tothe depending side wall portions of the mushroom head 6.

A compression spring 10 is disposed concentric with the post 3 and bearsagainst the adjacent binding nut 5 and the adjacent end vide anelectrical binding terminal of the of the collar 8.

character described inwhich there are no removable parts to become lostas in the case of the ordinary binding screw terminal.

A further object of my invention is to provide an electrical bindingterminal of the character described that is simple in construction, neatin appearance and thoroughly ellicient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed outin the appended claim.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a partof this ap-,

This panel 1 is provided with a transverse opening 2 therethrough,through which the lower end of a metal post 3 is projected. This end isthreaded as shown at 4.

The post 3 is held in place upon the panel 1 by the provision of bindingnuts 5, one on either side ofthe panel disposed upon the threadedportion 4 of the post.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, theoperation thereof may be readily understood. My improved electricalbinding terminal .is especially well adapted forv use upon instrumentsemployed in a radio circuit where connection and disconnection betweenthe instruments is desirable at will and also where positive connectionmust beassured. In securing a conductor such as a conductor 11 (seeFigure 1) to the binding terminal, the collar 8 is first manuallylowered upon the post 3 against the action of the spring 10. Of coursethe insulation 12 of the conductor 11' has been removed from theadjacent end of the conductor and the conductor is then disposed in oneof the grooves 7. Pressure is then released from the collar 8 and theportion 9 of the collar causes the conductor to be tightly grippedbetween that portion of the collar and the depending wall of themushroom head 6.

Let us assume now, as is shown in Figure 2, that a multiplicity of theconductors 11 are connected with the device in the manner shown. Becauseof the fact that the collar 8 is freeto move vertically upon the postand to tilt slightly a pressure upon each of the conductors 11 Will besubstantially the same due to equal distribution of the forces of thespring 10. This effect is usually true where no more than 3 conductorsare employed and is an advantage not found in the ordinary bindingterminal. 1

Another and important advantage of my bindingv terminal is that acontinuous conduc tor such as that shown at the right in Figure 2 may beconnected to the terminal without the necessity of severing theconductor, thus increasing the resistance thereof.

In Figure 3 I have shown a modified form of my invention in which theupper of the nuts 5 is replaced with a cup shaped member 13 havingdepending shearing portions 14 which are for the purpose of biting intothe panel 1. This cup shaped portion 13 has a threaded bore 15 by meansof-which the member may be employed in the same manner as the nut 5 forwhich it is substituted.

, The collar 8 is replaced by a collar 16 having depending side walls 17in the form of an apron which overhangs the upstanding walls 18 of thecup shaped member 13, so as to entirely encase the spring 10 which isdisposed about the post 3 the same as in the preferred form. This formof my invention operates in precisely the same manner as the pre ferredform, but the construction while more costly has an extreme and neatappearance and the spring is completely protected.

In Figure 4 I have shown a still further modified form of my inventionwhich is intended to be constructed at an extremely low cost and in thisform the post 3 has a reduced threaded portion 4 which is projectedthrough the opening 2 of the panel 1 and a single nut 5 holds the postin place.

A head 19 is carried by the upper end of the post 3 constructed somewhatafter the fashion of the mushroom head 6 and a fiat collar 20 isdisposed concentric withthe post 3 adjacent to the lower convoluted edge21 of the head 19.

A single band spring 22 having its ends overlapped at 23 is disposedupon the post 3 by means of holes punched through diametrically oppositesides of the band when coiled in the form shown in the drawin Theoperation of this modification 0 my invention is also the same as thatof the preferred form.

In Figure 5 I have shown still a further modified form of my inventionin which the post 3 has a reduced portion 4 and is secured to the panelin precisely the same manneras the form shown in Figure 4.

In this form of myinvention the post 3 has an enlarged head portion 24.An opening 25 is provided transversely through the post 3 adjacent tothe head 24 through which a conductor 11 or the like may be pro'ected.

A compression spring of the ban type shown at 26 is disposed upon thepost 3 in the same manner as the spring 22 in the form of the deviceshown in Fi ure 4.

The operation of this orm of my invention consists of projecting theconductor through the opening 25 while the spring 26 is compressedmanually. Upon releasing the spring 26 it will rise and engage with theadjacent portions of the conductor 11 and hold the conductor in closeengagement with the post 3.

I claim:

An electrical binding terminal of the character described comprising ast arranged to be fixed at its lowermost en to a supporting surface, awasher slidably mounted on said post and having an upwardly extendingmarginal flange, said post having an enlarged integral head portion atthe uppermost end thereof, and a compression spring mounted concentricwith said post between said Washer and the lower end of said post foryieldingly holding said washer in close engagement with said head, saidhead portion being provided with a depending marginal flange having aplurality of grooves equally spaced around the lower edge thereof, saidgrooves having arcuate-shaped upper surfaces whereby one or moreconductors may be readily inserted therein from any angle and rigidlyheld in place, the arcuateshaped surfaces of the grooves conforming tothe conductors.

JOHN L. POLK.

